“God is Light”

There are a great many descriptions of God's wonderful qualities and attributes in Scripture, but there are very few references to God equations, “God is...”  I have settled upon three:  “God is a consuming fire,” Hebrews 12:29, and “God is love,” I John 4:8,16, and “God is light.”  I John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

First of all, it seems interesting that there are so few God equations, but Pastor Ron Harrison has observed that some equations would tend to limit God.  For instance, there are times when we are comforted with the thought of God as our Rock, but He does not have a whole lot in common with a rock!  With light there are many points of comparison, and light is such a wonderful creation that it does not give any appearance of limitation.

I John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  In First John light is presented in opposition to the darkness of sin and man's spiritual ignorance. Just as we cannot approach a light without being illuminated, men cannot have fellowship with God without exposing themselves and submitting themselves to His light.  That light is purity and holiness without any compromise.  It was embodied by Jesus Christ, “The Light of the world,” His death on the cross provided the only way to life and light for us.

Several examples of God’s light from Scripture could be discussed, but my favorite is the light of Heaven.  God Himself, through His glory and His Son, provides the light of heaven.  This is a thought that makes it a place of hope and joy, especially in comparison to what the world has to offer.  We cannot imagine darkness in Heaven, but it is certainly part of the curse of Hell where there is no fellowship with God or man.  The truth that “God is light” fuels our reverence for Him as He is so far above us in power and purity.  The opportunity for us to be “children of light” (John 12:36) ought to move us to appreciate our fellowship with God and to make the most of it.  That means that we will constantly seek to reflect God’s light rather than obstruct it!  What are you giving to the world, a shine or a shadow?

Hopefully articles on the next two “God Equations” are coming.  Look ahead for yourself, if you wish, but by all means endeavor to appreciate Who and what God is and so improve your fellowship with Him.